Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Ex-Man City player who scored iconic derby goal becomes new president of Georgia

talksport.com, 14 December 2024, 13:04
Former Manchester City striker Mikheil Kavelashvili has been appointed president by Georgia's parliament.

The 53-year-old - a former member of parliament - was the only candidate for the job, running for the ruling Georgian Dream party.

224 out of 225 members of Georgia's electoral college voted for him - but Georgia's opposition parties have been boycotting parliament, insisting that the elections held in October were rigged.

Rewind nearly 30 years, and Kavelashvili had just arrived at Premier League Man City from Georgian side FC Dinamo Tbilisi.

He had an instant impact at City's old home, Maine Road, netting on his debut.

And it wasn't just any old debut goal either.

more premier league

Wolves strip Mario Lemina of captaincy after West Ham meltdown

Victor Osimhen 'desperate to join one Premier League club' as transfer interest builds

The Georgian bagged against none other than City's fierce local rivals Manchester United in the Manchester derby in 1995/96.

The Red Devils had been 1-0 up at Maine Road courtesy of a sixth minute Eric Cantona penalty, before City's new striker fired home in the 39th minute to equalise.

It was United's day in the end though, with goals from Andy Cole and Ryan Giggs sealing a 3-2 derby day victory.

Kavelashvili continued playing for City following their relegation to the First Division - now known as the Championship.

Most read in Football

I'm a cult Premier League player - now I run a coffee shop in adopted home

Gabriel STARTS for Arsenal against Everton, Nunez dropped for Liverpool at Anfield

Deeney: Gyokeres is not a natural finisher, he will get found out at Arsenal or Man United

'It's hard to hear'- Man United Women's boss responds to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's comments

He bagged two goals in 24 appearances, before being shipped out on loan to Swiss side Grasshoppers in Zurich.

He won the Swiss Super League in 1998 and transferred to Zurich permanently from City in 1999.

After retiring at Basel in 2006 with 46 caps for Georgia under his belt, Kavelashvili later entered into politics.

This came after he was disqualified from seeking the leadership of the Georgian football federation because he was judged to have lacked the qualifications.

He was elected as an MP in Georgia in 2016.

His party, the People's Power party, ran alongside Georgian Dream in the October elections.

It has now decided to act in parliament as a 'healthy opposition'.

Despite large protests in Georgia, the former Premier League striker is expected to assume office on December 29.

Georgi Kinkladze explains he was wanted by Barcelona, Inter Milan and Celtic but chose to stay at Manchester City because he loved the club that much

Top News

24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The first Premier League fixture after Christmas will see Everton make the short trip down the M62 to face champions Manchester City at the Etihad on Boxing Day. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola could reinstate Kevin De Bruyne to the starting lineup when they face Everton at the Etihad on Boxing Day. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sean Dyche could be tempted to make a tactical change up front when his Everton team travel to the Etihad to face Manchester City on Boxing Day. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bristol City will look to end a four-game winless run when they welcome Luton Town to Ashton Gate on Boxing Day. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has reportedly given the green light for a swap deal involving Ansu Fati and Manchester United's Marcus Rashford. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur can make his long-awaited domestic return when Spurs square off with Nottingham Forest in Thursday's Premier League Boxing Day encounter. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo will be reuniting with the club he managed for 17 games when Tottenham Hotspur visit the City Ground for a Boxing Day Premier League battle. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Occupying opposite positions to what many perhaps expected at the start of the season, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur lock horns in a Premier League Boxing Day battle at the City Ground. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that star winger Bukayo Saka will miss "several weeks" due to a hamstring injury. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has revealed that Romeo Lavia will again miss out on a place in his squad against Fulham on Boxing Day. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has reaffirmed his commitment to Newcastle United despite speculation linking him with a move away from St James' Park. 24 December 2024 talksport.com Martin Keown believes that Ethan Nwaneri could be the man to best deputise for Bukayo Saka at Arsenal. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Juventus have enquired about the availability of Chelsea centre-back Axel Disasi in January, according to a report. 24 December 2024 talksport.com 'Tis the season to be jolly, but perhaps not if your name is Michael Olise. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On a seemingly unstoppable surge towards Premier League title number two, Liverpool return from their brief Christmas hiatus on Boxing Day, hosting Leicester City in the 8pm kickoff. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Short-serving Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno Espirito Santo seeks to prolong Spurs' festive misery on Boxing Day, when his Nottingham Forest side tackle the Lilywhites at the City Ground. 24 December 2024 talksport.com Liverpool sit top at Christmas having mauled Tottenham and fans are dreaming of more title glory. 24 December 2024 talksport.com Christmas is a joyful occasion for many, but some of the Premier League's lower-ranking sides may have slightly muted celebrations. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy might give consideration to a formation change for Boxing Day's Premier League clash away to leaders Liverpool. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool head coach Arne Slot should be working with an identical group of players for Boxing Day's Premier League battle with Leicester City at Anfield. 24 December 2024 talksport.com Former Arsenal star Ray Parlour is known for telling a good story, whether that's on or off the pitch. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sweeping aside every obstacle in their path, Premier League title favourites Liverpool resume their pursuit of stardom at 8pm on Boxing Day, when Leicester City make the jaunt to Anfield. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sitting just above their hosts in the Premier League table, Aston Villa will visit Newcastle United on Boxing Day, aiming to avoid a fifth straight away defeat in England's top flight. 24 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal's quest to win a first Premier League title in 21 years is still on - Bukayo Saka's injury doesn't change anything. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has been talking team news and transfers ahead of Thursday's Premier League contest with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui has lost Lucas Paqueta to suspension ahead of Boxing Day's Premier League battle with Southampton at St Mary's. 24 December 2024 talksport.com Football and travel chaos seem to go hand-in-hand over winter, but no one's had it quite as bad as Tottenham fans in 1996. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ivan Juric oversees his first Southampton match on Boxing Day, when the Saints pit their wits against West Ham United at St Mary's in the Premier League. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Separated by two points and two places in the Premier League table, Newcastle United and Aston Villa will both aim to boost their top-four ambitions when they clash on Boxing Day. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Boxing Day marks the beginning of a new era for Premier League basement boys Southampton, as Ivan Juric takes charge of his inaugural game at home to West Ham United.